WINONA - Currently, the Winona Separate School District is receiving 8.664 percent less money than originally allocated from the state Department of Education to fund the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, and with more cuts projected for the next school year, school officials are tightening their belts to brace for the final numbers.
In a last minute development, according to the Clarion Ledger, in a compromise made Tuesday night by Mississippi House of Representative and Mississippi Senate negotiators, more than $37 million will be restored to K-12 education this school year by tapping into state reserve funds. The full legislature must still vote on the measure, but Governor Haley Barbour, who vetoed an earlier measure to restore funding to schools, said he would not veto the bill if it passes both houses.
Dr. Randy Poss, Superintendent for Winona schools, said his district has been shorted more than $800,000 than what was originally allocated to the district from the state.
"We were told about 70 percent of the money cut from last year would be returned this year, and the MAEP was fully funded," Poss said. "We budgeted for that. We will be about three-quarters of a million dollars short what we thought we would be funded."
To date, the state has lessened its funding to Winona Separate School District $564,000. Combined with last year's cuts not returned to the district, cuts this year alone equal $827,000. If the measure to restore state funding does not pass, the state forecasts another 1.5 percent in cuts before the end of the school year.
"We had about $1.5 million in a Rainy Day fund, but that fluctuates throughout the year," Poss said. "That money was set aside to be used for emergencies."
Poss said when situations that occur like the need for a new roof or to replace a school bus or heating and air conditioning unit, the district's emergency funding can be quickly diminished, but the state cuts have forced the district to tap into its emergency funding to make up for the shortfall.
"This district runs really thin," Poss said. "I think we do the most with what we have."
So far, the district has cut back substantially - limiting travel, new text book purchases, and other major expenses. Poss said he did not foresee any cuts in staffing this school year, but he is eagerly waiting to see what the Mississippi Legislature decides during state budget negotiations.
"The state is telling us to consider a 12 next school year," Poss said. "We could not meet payroll at our current conditions, and that is before we open the doors."
Poss said, while he hopes the situation will not warrant it, a reduction of staff for next year might be a possibility.
"Seventy-five percent of our expense comes from staffing," he said. "But our hope is that we get some money restored when the budget is created. This cuts a lot deeper than layoffs. Schools are about people."
Poss said with state tests scheduled for next month, his teachers are gearing up to retain high performing standards, but each year, the state will require more from districts to meeting high performing and star school status.
"What they require you to do is more and more," Poss said. "Standards continue to climb. It is as if they are asking you to jump higher, but then they cut our legs out from under us."
Poss said the district depends greatly on the support of the community, and he appreciates the overwhelming support.
"I don't foresee asking for a tax increase," Poss said. "The community is awfully good to us, and an additional burden isn't helping anyone."
As for improvements made in the district, Poss said special projects like parking lot resurfacing and other construction projects that are ongoing in the district were funded by one-time money received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. For example, the district got $500,000 to fund Title I and Special Education projects. In another instance, the school received money to purchase computers and make improvements in laboratory settings.
"That money is mandated in certain areas," Poss said.
This article has been made moot. The Legislature funded and the Governor signed the bill. Now how about an article that looks into the duplication and waste in the schools in Montgomery County.
Taxes to support the schools in this one of the poorest counties in the state are some of the highest,especially in the Winona Separate School District. This is a small county both in area and population. Consolidation makes so much sense, especially for those among us that carry the tax burden.
Neighboring Carroll County enjoys property taxes that are one half that of the Winona Separate School District. Why would anyone want to make Winona their home when they can live in Carroll County,pay half the property taxes and send their children to Winona Public Schools. It is my opinion this is the very reason Carroll County has seen growth in population,and Winona has seen a decline. Many children from Carroll County are enrolled in Winona Public Schools. They are all white.
Children that live within a mile of the Winona Public Schools are bussed ten miles to Kilmichael. Guess what color.